The University of California, Berkeley or UC Berkeley is one of the founding members of the Association of American Universities, a renowned public research university with a highly selective acceptance rate.
Berkeley is one of the best research institutions on the Pacific coast of the United States. It’s the first land grant university in California and hosts research institutes focused on engineering, science, and mathematics.
UC Berkeley on average receives over 120,000 applications from domestic and international students. The university admits applicants whose application profile satisfies the standard for academic requirements.
Getting into UC Berkeley is more challenging than most UC schools due to its selective acceptance rate.
But, what does it take to get into UC Berkeley for prospective students and what academic qualifications should transfer students present during admission?
We will also be looking at what Berkeley expects from international applicants during admission.
About UC Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley is a public research institution in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868, UC Berkeley is the oldest institution among the 10 campuses in the University of California school system.
UC Berkeley started as the University of California in the mid-1800s. Over the years, the university has grown to become one of the most prestigious research institutions in the world.
Today, UC Berkeley hosts various scientific research institutes such as the space science laboratory and the mathematical science research institute.
Berkeley has one of the largest populations of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled across 14 distinctive schools and colleges. It offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering, business, law, natural resources public health, and law.
Also Read: University of California, UC Berkeley Student Portal Login: calcentral.berkeley.edu
List of Schools and Colleges at UC Berkeley
Below are the schools and colleges at the University of California Berkeley.
- Haas School of Business
- College of Chemistry
- School of Education
- College of Engineering
- College of Environmental Design
- School of information
- School of Journalism
- School of Law
- College of Letters and Science
- The Rausser College of Natural Resources
- School of Optometry
- School of Public Health
- School of Social Welfare
UC Berkeley Rankings
According to U.S News & World Report, the University of California, Berkeley is ranked #1 in Top Public Schools, #20 in National Universities, and #182 in Bets Value Schools.
UC Berkeley ranks #10 on the list of the world’s top 100 universities (QS World University Rankings). It also ranks #8 on World University Rankings according to Times Higher Education.
Campus Life at UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley has a largest student body, and as expected, it also has enticing programs and services for the best college life experience.
UC Berkeley’s housing system provides the perfect atmosphere for college life, and if you are interested to join any student organization, hundreds of them are available on campus.
Recreational sports are also on campus, and you can take advantage of UC Berkeley fitness classes and outdoor adventures.
It’s safe on campus at UC Berkeley. The university considers your welfare a priority by providing on-campus health services and campus police.
UC Berkeley Acceptance Rate
In the last three admission cycles, UC Berkeley’s overall applications have exceeded the 50,000 mark.
During the 2019-2020 application year, UC Berkeley received 88,066 applications, admitting 17.6% of that number of applications.
Berkeley recently received 128,225 freshman applications, out of which 14,603 applicants were admitted.
By admitting 14,603 first-year applicants, the acceptance rate at UC Berkeley is 11.4% which is very selective. With an acceptance rate of 11.4%, UC Berkeley remains one of the most selective public universities in the United States.
GPA Requirement at UC Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley requires a 3.9 GPA on average. To meet this standard at Berkeley, you need more A’s than B’s in your high school courses.
Here is a GPA overview of freshmen at UC Berkeley.
| GPA Range | |
| Unweighted GPA | 3.36-4.0 |
| Weighted GPA | 4.25-4.61 |
SAT and ACT Requirements
The average SAT score at Berkeley is 1415 on the 1600 SAT scale.
Here are stats for SAT scores at UC Berkeley.
| SAT | Score Range (25th – 75th Percentile) |
| Math | 680-790 |
| Reading and Writing | 650-740 |
| Composite | 1330-1530 |
UC Berkeley’s average ACT score is 31.
Below are stats for the 25th and 75th ACT scores.
| ACT | Score Range (25th – 75th Percentile) |
| Math | 28-35 |
| English | 29-35 |
| Composite | 31-35 |
First-Year Application Requirements
Applying to the University of California, Berkeley requires presenting an excellent academic record from high school. A proof to show to UC Berkeley that you are academically qualified and eligible for admission.
Average Academic Requirements
For a successful application to UC Berkeley, you should meet these requirements;
- Ensure you meet the A-G subject course requirements
- You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in A-G courses taken in your 10th and 11th grades. Out-of-state applicants are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.4
Also Read: Easiest Major to Get Into UCLA: UCLA with High Acceptance Rates
UC Berkeley Selection
UC Berkeley evaluates your application profile holistically to ascertain if you are academically qualified for admission.
In other to gain admission into Berkeley, the university assesses your;
- Unweighted and weighted UC GPA. Berkeley calculates this by using its approved courses in the 10th and 11th grades.
- Planned courses in 12th grade
- The number of college-level courses (Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate) and transferable college courses you have taken so far
- The level attained in those college courses
- The scores of your college-level courses (AP or IB) and SAT exams
Review
The University of California, Berkeley widely evaluates your application to determine your candidacy.
Berkeley scopes beyond an applicant’s GPA or test scores. The university is more interested in your extracurricular activities, involvement in community service, motivation, leadership, etc.
Besides taking college-level courses in high school, UC Berkeley wants to see your exuberance in non-academic activities.
You will be at an advantage in the admission pool by portraying a good sense of leadership, character, insight, intellect, and initiative.
How to Apply to Berkeley
First-year applicants to UC Berkeley should fill out the UC application, and you can visit Berkeley’s official website for more details on the application process.
Application Fee or Fee Waivers
Pay the nonrefundable application fee of $75. The application fee is $80 for international applicants.
Application fee waivers are also available for eligible students with financial needs.
UC Berkeley Admission Process
The admission process at UC Berkeley involves two steps procedure;
First, you must meet the academic and non-academic requirements for your application to be considered during admission.
Secondly, no aspect or characteristic assures the admission of an applicant into UC Berkeley. The University of California, Berkeley evaluates all applicants accordingly, and only applicants who meet the UC admission requirements are admitted.
UC Berkeley Acceptance Rate for International Students
The international students are well represented at UC Berkeley. The last application cycle at Berkeley recorded thousands of applications from international applicants from over 74 countries.
The acceptance rate at UC Berkeley for international students is approximately 9%, which is very selective.
Despite the selectivity for international students, UC Berkeley has a diverse community that shares a common academic among cohorts.
Also Read: UCSD Acceptance Rate By Major
Application Requirements for International Applicants
The University of California campuses have an international admission specialist who knows the educational systems in many countries. You should be able to locate an admission specialist that understands your country’s educational system.
As an international applicant to UC Berkeley you must have;
- Completed either a two-year A-level program with an average of three academic exams (International Baccalaureate diploma program) or another similar academic coursework.
English Proficiency
The University of California, Berkeley prioritizes good demonstration in English for all applicants. International applicants who hail from countries where English is not an official language are required to take the English proficiency test.
International applicants to UC Berkeley can take these tests to show proficiency in English.
- TOEFL– Minimum score of 80 or above (100 is preferable)
- IELTS- Minimum score of 6.5 or above
- Duolingo– Minimum score of 115
- Three years or more of LOI in English
- Advanced Placement exams in the English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition- Minimum score of 3, 4 or 5
- International Baccalaureate Standard Level exams in English- Minimum score of 6, or 7
- International Baccalaureate Higher Level exams in English- Minimum score of 5, 6 or 7
UC Berkeley Acceptance Rate for Transfer Students
UC Berkeley has received quite a large number of transfer applications from the past admission year. It received 19,074 transfer applications in 2020 and a year later that number increased to 22,212.
Out of the 22,212 transfer applications, UC Berkeley accepted 4,889, and the acceptance rate for transfer applicants stands at 22.0%.
During the last admission cycle, 5,200 transfer students were admitted to UC Berkeley after 19,371 transfer students applied.
The transfer acceptance rate at UC Berkeley is currently at 27%.
Application Requirement for Transfer Students
Here are the requirements for transfer students at UC Berkeley.
UC Berkeley Minimum Requirements for Transfer Admission
The admission requirements for transfer students vary across colleges at the University of California, Berkeley, and likewise majors.
Berkeley requires academic requirements for transfer admission to be completed by the end of the spring term before your application in the fall term.
For a successful application to UC Berkeley, all transfer applicants are required to;
- Have completed a general education/breadth requirement
- Must have completed 60 UC transferable semesters equivalent to 90 UC-transferable quarter units on average
- Overall average GPA of 3.0 in all transferable coursework at the college level
- Provide Lower Division Major Preparation Courses
Holistic Review and Selection
UC Berkeley reviews transfer applications holistically and ascertains who is academically qualified for admission.
UC Berkeley evaluates your application profile by reviewing your college-level courses, number of units, major preparation of courses and general education.
The university is also interested in applicants who possess a good sense of leadership, character, intellect, and responsibility.
Transfer Applicants with Coursework from 4-Year Institutions
Transfer applicants who have completed UC transferable curriculum at any 4-year institution might be ineligible for admission if they exceed the UC Berkeley unit maximum policy for admission.
To find out if you have surpassed the unit maximum policy, you need to understand and apply the UC lower-division maximum transfer credit policy.
The UC lower-division maximum transfer credit limitation policy.
- UC Berkeley will grant 70-semester equivalent to 105 quarter units to students who completed coursework in the freshman/sophomore (lower division) at any institution.
For Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate examinations, the requirements for exam scores are 3 or above on AP exams. While the exam score for IB (higher level exams) is 5 or above.
The Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate examination scores are accepted as unit credits at UC Berkeley.
UC Berkeley Application Dates/Deadline
| Application available | August 1 |
|---|---|
| Apply for financial aid – FAFSA or CA Dream Act applications open | October 1 |
| Application filing period | November 1-30 |
| Application deadline | November 30 |
| Berkeley notifies applicants of receipt of application | Early December |
| Online UC Transfer Application Update (TAU) deadline | January 31 (priority) |
| UC Berkeley mandatory forms deadline | January 31 |
| FAFSA and CA Dream Act | March 2 |
| Freshman decisions posted | End of March* |
| Transfer decisions posted | End of April* |
| Freshman deadline to accept an offer of admission | May 1 |
| Transfer deadline to accept an offer of admission | June 1 |
UC Berkeley Tuition and Fees
Below is the estimated cost of attendance at the University of California, Berkeley.
| Residents | Nonresidents | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 5,721.00 | 5,721.00 |
| Student Services Fee | 564.00 | 564.00 |
| Berkeley Campus Fee | 732.75 | 732.75 |
| Class Pass Fee – Transit | 95.00 | 95.00 |
| Nonresident Supplemental Tuition | N/A | 14,877.00 |
| Health Insurance Fee | 1,894.00 | 1,894.00 |
| Continuing Student Total | $ 9,006.75 | $ 23,883.75 |
| Document Management Fee | 207.00 | 207.00 |
| New Student Total | $ 9,213.75 | $ 24,090.75 |
Is UC Berkeley a Good School?
The University of California, Berkeley is one of the prestigious public institutions on the Pacific Coast of the U.S. Berkeley is arguably the perfect research institution for students who are interested in engineering, advanced technological research and sciences.
UC Berkeley community provides an atmosphere that suits the perfect college life for new students.
Also Read: 10 Best Pre Med Schools in California
UC Berkeley Contact Address
- School Address: Berkeley, CA, United States
- Phone: +1 510-642-6000
Are there Medical Programs offered at UC Berkeley?
Unfortunately, UC Berkeley does offer any medical programs as there is no medical school or college on Berkeley’s main campus.
UC Berkeley students are admitted into various medical schools across the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the frequently asked questions regarding the acceptance rate at UC Berkeley.
What is the minimum GPA to get into UC Berkeley?
The GPA required at UC Berkeley is 3.89 on average. The newly admitted students at Berkeley had an unweighted GPA of 3.86-4.0 and a weighted GPA of 4.25-4.61.
With an average high school GPA of 3.89, you will be at an advantage in the UC Berkeley admission pool.
Is Harvard or UC Berkeley harder to get into?
When it comes to the acceptance rate, Harvard University is more selective than UC Berkeley. The admission rate at Harvard is 5% while that of Berkeley is 11.4%.
Is Berkeley better than UCLA?
There is always a rivalry between UC Berkeley and UCLA. According to U.S News & World Report, UC Berkeley is ranked #20 tied with UCLA in National Universities.
Is it hard to get into UC Berkeley?
The acceptance rate at UC Berkeley is on a selective standard of admitting 11.4% of its overall applicants. Getting into UC Berkeley will require obtaining the best high school grades and test scores.
Conclusion
The University of California, Berkeley is one of the prominent research institutions established on the foundation to provide education that nurtures potential careers.
The selectivity at UC Berkeley assesses the academic and non-academic qualifications of applicants. With the piece of information provided to you in this article, I presume you already know what to include in your application profile.
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References
- U.S. News & World Report: University of California, Berkeley Rankings
- TopUniversities: University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
- Admission.University of California.edu: UC Berkeley
- Times Higher Education: University of California, Berkeley
